Xi's last visit in 2014, at the height of Beijing-Seoul relations, culminated in a free-trade agreement that took effect in 2015.

US President Donald Trump leaves on Friday for Asia and high-stakes talks with Chinese leader Xi Jinping -- as Washington played down speculation that he could meet North Korea's Kim Jong Un.

Xi will deliver a speech at APEC and hold bilateral meetings with other leaders, including South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, Guo Jiakun, a spokesperson for the ministry, said at a press briefing o...